And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her menstrual period, exposing her nakedness and her flow of blood, both of them must be removed from their community.
This verse establishes that intimate relations during a woman's menstrual period resulted in both people being excluded from the community under Old Testament law.
📚 Historical Context
In the context of ancient Israel, the book of Leviticus was part of the Mosaic Law given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt, emphasizing rules for maintaining ritual purity and holiness among God's chosen people. This verse specifically addresses sexual relations during a woman's menstrual period, which was considered a source of ritual uncleanness, to prevent defilement and uphold the community's separation from surrounding pagan cultures. Such laws were practical guidelines for daily life, reflecting the Israelites' covenant relationship with God and their need to live distinctly as a holy nation.
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